Culture Friday, same-sex marriage and the United Methodist church, The American Songbook

Today’s news and Culture Friday with John Stonestreet, talking about the importance of religious liberty in the face of persecution, plus: a United Methodist bishop defies church doctrine to perform a same-sex wedding, Bob Case examines sad songs and their relationship to the Israelites for The American Songbook, and more

Program Segments

Friday news

Insurance cancellations: CNN reports that the White House is warning health insurers not to talk about policy cancellations caused by Obamacare regulations. The White House denies the claim, but CNN’s unnamed sources say insurance company executives are terrified they’ll get booted out of the market for speaking out.

Iran sanctions: The White House is looking to ease sanctions against Iran amid nuclear talks. The administration is asking lawmakers to hold off on drafting a new round of penalties, while negotiations are ongoing.

Too little, too late: Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin plans to introduce legislation that would allow people to keep their individual health plans. But Yevgeny Feyman of the Manhattan Institute says the damage has already been done for the two million Americans who’ve received cancellations and the millions more who will get them before any new legislation became law.

Business/economy: White House predictions that Obamacare would reduce healthcare costs for small businesses have not proven to be accurate. In a survey of just under a thousand small business owners by the National Federation of Small Business, roughly 2 out of 3 respondents have seen their healthcare costs rise over the last year. In addition, US stocks were flat as investors didn’t quite know which way to go.

Last weekend, in violation of United Methodist doctrinal standards, retired UM Bishop Melvin Talbert performed a union ceremony for two homosexual men. He called it a “great day for the church.” Learn more here.

Rob Renfroe is the president of Good News, a United Methodist renewal ministry founded in 1967.